Qualys Web Application Firewall vs Sophos Firewall (XGS)

Both Qualys Web Application Firewall and Sophos Firewall (XGS) are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.

View Qualys Web Application Firewall Review View Sophos Firewall (XGS) Review

Overview

Qualys Web Application Firewall and Sophos Firewall (XGS) are both popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.

Cloud-managed WAF from Qualys that integrates with their vulnerability scanning platform, enabling one-click virtual patching of discovered vulnerabilities. Note — product was decommissioned September 2024.

Next-gen firewall (SFOS on XGS appliances) with a built-in reverse-proxy Web Application Firewall via its Web Server Protection module; the active successor to the end-of-life Sophos UTM.

Quick Comparison

Feature Qualys Web Application Firewall Sophos Firewall (XGS)
Overall Rating 3.0/5 3.8/5
Free Tier No Yes
Pricing Model Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned) Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle)
Ease of Use 3.2/5 3.9/5
Value for Money 2.5/5 4.0/5
Support 3.5/5 3.8/5
Platforms VMware, Hyper-V, Docker, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure)
Compliance PCI DSS, SOC 2, FedRAMP, ISO 27001 (Qualys platform level) Common Criteria, FIPS-validated cryptography (model dependent)

Pricing Comparison

Qualys Web Application Firewall

Model: Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned)

Qualys WAF (Decommissioned)

Previously subscription-based

View full pricing →

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

Model: Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle)

Free Tier Available

Home Edition

Free

Xstream Protection (Commercial)

Custom pricing

View full pricing →

Features Comparison

Qualys Web Application Firewall

  • WAS Integration

    Automatically generate WAF rules from Qualys Web Application Scanning results for one-click virtual patching.

  • Cloud-Managed Appliance

    Virtual appliance deployed locally but managed centrally through the Qualys Cloud Platform.

  • Custom Security Policies

    Flexible policy engine with reusable rules and templates for common platforms and custom applications.

  • Pre-Built CMS Policies

    Out-of-the-box protection policies for WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, SharePoint, and Outlook Web Application.

  • Security Event Analytics

    Detailed dashboards with traffic summaries, threat trends, and drill-down capabilities for incident investigation.

  • Local Traffic Processing

    Application traffic stays within your environment for minimal latency and full data control.

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • Reverse-Proxy WAF

    Apache-based reverse proxy that protects published web servers against SQL injection, cross-site scripting, directory traversal, and other common web attacks.

  • Form Hardening

    Signs and validates form fields to prevent manipulation of submitted web forms.

  • URL Hardening

    Restricts accessible URLs based on the learned structure of the protected application.

  • Cookie Signing

    Cryptographically signs cookies to detect and block tampering.

  • Reverse-Proxy Authentication

    Adds basic or form-based authentication policies in front of published web servers via WAF rules.

  • Antivirus Scanning

    Scans uploads and traffic to protected web servers for malware as part of Web Server Protection.

Which One Is Right for You?

The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.

Qualys Web Application Firewall

  • You need: Historical reference; previously suited for Qualys platform customers wanting integrated vulnerability management and WAF
  • You're using: VMware, Hyper-V, Docker, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform
Learn more →

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • You need: Organizations already running Sophos Firewall, businesses wanting WAF and network security in one appliance, home labs and educational users via the free Home Edition
  • You want to start with a free tier
  • You're using: XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure)
Learn more →

We recommend evaluating both options with a trial or free tier before committing. Consider your existing infrastructure, team expertise, compliance requirements, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for startups: Qualys Web Application Firewall or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall does not, making Sophos Firewall (XGS) more accessible for budget-conscious startups. Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for ease of use (3.9/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.

Which has better support: Qualys Web Application Firewall or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) has a higher support rating (3.8/5) compared to Qualys Web Application Firewall (3.5/5). However, support quality can vary based on your plan tier - enterprise customers typically receive more responsive support from both providers. Consider evaluating support during a trial period.

Which is easier to implement: Qualys Web Application Firewall or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for ease of use (3.9/5) versus Qualys Web Application Firewall (3.2/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: Qualys Web Application Firewall or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall requires a paid plan. Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for value (4.0/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.

Which works better with AWS: Qualys Web Application Firewall or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Both Qualys Web Application Firewall and Sophos Firewall (XGS) support AWS deployments. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.